Saturday, 7 August 2010

lnhammer: the Chinese character for poetry, red on white background (Default)
    In fair Yoshino,
autumn wind from the mountain
    as evening deepens,
and in the old town, coldly
I hear them beating out robes.

—24 July 2010

Original by Fujiwara no Masatsune, who studied under Yoritsune (#83) and is sometimes erroneously called his son. An "allusive variation" on a poem by Korenori (#31). Fulling was a typical autumn evening task -- the converse of airing out robes as in #2 -- and the sound of beating clothing was a poetic symbol of loneliness. The old village may be intended to evoke the old capitals of Nara or Asuka, near Yoshino.


miyoshino no
yama no akikaze
sayo fukete
furusato samuku
koromo utsu nari


---L.

About

Warning: contents contain line-breaks.

As language practice, I like to translate poetry. My current project is Chinese, with practice focused on Tang Dynasty poetry. Previously this was classical Japanese, most recently working through the Kokinshu anthology (archived here). Suggestions, corrections, and questions always welcome.

There's also original pomes in the journal archives.

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